Fresh off a decisive re-election, Boston Mayor Michelle Wu delivered a fiery speech rebuking President Donald Trump and his administration’s criticism of her city.
Speaking to cheering supporters Tuesday night in Boston’s Seaport District, Wu accused Trump’s administration of spreading “chaos and cruelty” while reaffirming Boston’s commitment to inclusivity and democracy. “That is what this election was about here in Boston,” Wu told the crowd. “Not just how we lead, but what we believe. Whether we believe that wealth should buy power, we don’t. Whether experience matters — it does. And most of all, whether we will bow to a criminal who acts like a king.”
Wu, 40, became Boston’s first woman and Asian American mayor in 2021. Her re-election was assured after her main opponent, Josh Kraft, withdrew following a loss in the preliminary election. As the campaign entered November, attention shifted from electoral competition to the political significance of Wu’s leadership.
With 100% of precincts reporting, Wu won 93.23% of the vote, according to unofficial city results. About 6% went to write-in candidates — a reflection, analysts say, of the mayor’s broad support across neighborhoods and constituencies. This decisive outcome set the stage for Wu’s post-election address.
Her remarks on Tuesday highlighted a recurring theme of defiance that has characterized much of her tenure. In particular, Wu has clashed repeatedly with Trump and his administration, especially over Boston’s sanctuary city policies and immigration enforcement. “You’d think, at some point, they’d learn: Boston doesn’t back down,” Wu said, drawing loud applause from the audience.
Trump administration officials — most notably Tom Homan, the president’s border czar — have accused Wu’s administration of failing to cooperate with federal immigration authorities and threatened to deploy federal officers to conduct arrests in the city. Wu countered those threats earlier this year during congressional testimony, where she defended Boston’s stance as both lawful and moral.
“Right now, our city is being targeted because we refuse to stop doing what they say is impossible: take care of our people, take care of everyone,” Wu said Tuesday. “Wannabe dictators don’t like seeing proof that democracy works.”
Wu’s defense of the city’s policies has elevated her profile nationally, drawing comparisons to other Democratic mayors such as New York’s Eric Adams and Chicago’s Brandon Johnson, both of whom have faced federal scrutiny over local immigration decisions. However, unlike many of her peers, Wu’s unopposed re-election underscores her strong position within Boston politics, where she remains widely popular among both progressives and moderates.
Born in Chicago to Taiwanese immigrant parents, Wu is a Harvard alum. She joined Boston politics in 2013 and became the first Asian American woman on the city council, later serving as council president.
Her rise has been marked by an emphasis on policy over partisanship. During her tenure as mayor, she has prioritized affordable housing, climate resilience, and public transportation, launching initiatives such as fare-free bus routes and rent stabilization efforts. Meanwhile, her willingness to take on both local and national critics has made her one of the most visible progressive leaders in the country.
“This campaign wasn’t just about one city,” said Erin O’Brien, a political science professor at UMass Boston. “Wu’s message — that democracy can be compassionate and competent — resonates far beyond Massachusetts.”
As she enters her second term, Wu pledged to continue expanding housing access, improving public transit, and protecting immigrant communities. “Boston’s future,” she told supporters, “belongs to everyone who believes in the power of people, not privilege.”
For official election results, visit the City of Boston website. Additional reporting by WCVB Boston and The Boston Globe contributed to this article.
